Assata: An Autobiography
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- Author：Assata Shakur
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Summary
On May 2， 1973， Black Panther Assata Shakur （aka JoAnne Chesimard） lay in a hospital， close to death， handcuffed to her bed， while local， state， and federal police attempted to question her about the shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike that had claimed the life of a white state trooper。 Long a target of J。 Edgar Hoover's campaign to defame， infiltrate， and criminalize Black nationalist organizations and their leaders， Shakur was incarcerated for four years prior to her conviction on flimsy evidence in 1977 as an accomplice to murder。
This intensely personal and political autobiography belies the fearsome image of JoAnne Chesimard long projected by the media and the state。 With wit and candor， Assata Shakur recounts the experiences that led her to a life of activism and portrays the strengths， weaknesses， and eventual demise of Black and White revolutionary groups at the hand of government officials。 The result is a signal contribution to the literature about growing up Black in America that has already taken its place alongside The Autobiography of Malcolm X and the works of Maya Angelou。
Two years after her conviction， Assata Shakur escaped from prison。 She was given political asylum by Cuba， where she now resides。
This intensely personal and political autobiography belies the fearsome image of JoAnne Chesimard long projected by the media and the state。 With wit and candor， Assata Shakur recounts the experiences that led her to a life of activism and portrays the strengths， weaknesses， and eventual demise of Black and White revolutionary groups at the hand of government officials。 The result is a signal contribution to the literature about growing up Black in America that has already taken its place alongside The Autobiography of Malcolm X and the works of Maya Angelou。
Two years after her conviction， Assata Shakur escaped from prison。 She was given political asylum by Cuba， where she now resides。
Reviews
Mallory Everhart
，
Exceptional writing of a completely harrowing story of state repression of Black leftists。 Beautiful poetic interludes and the irrepressible self-hood of an amazing woman。
Melissa
，
I’ve always thought I wasn’t a big fan of autobiography as a genre， but this book might have changed my mind。 Despite the continual campaign of terror waged against her by the government， Assata remained candid， pragmatic and resilient。 And also， （darkly） funny！ I didn’t expect any moments of levity， but I found myself laughing on several occasions - Assata’s narration felt like listening to a friend or relative。 There was so much absurdity in how she was continually treated in the court system， I’ve always thought I wasn’t a big fan of autobiography as a genre， but this book might have changed my mind。 Despite the continual campaign of terror waged against her by the government， Assata remained candid， pragmatic and resilient。 And also， （darkly） funny！ I didn’t expect any moments of levity， but I found myself laughing on several occasions - Assata’s narration felt like listening to a friend or relative。 There was so much absurdity in how she was continually treated in the court system， that I can see there really wasn’t much more to do than laugh。 Despite the inhumane and racist treatment she continually suffered， she remained committed to the liberation of Black communities and all globally oppressed communities。 This isn’t the story of a larger than life figure， this is the story of a Black woman。 Whose humanity was constantly and consistently under attack。 I’m grateful to have read this important piece of history。 。。。more
Marthapaola
，
This is probably the most important book I have ever read。 I cannot recommend it enough to anyone that will listen。 I truly believe that everyone， especially in the U。S。， needs to read this book。 It's informative and inspiring and sad and entertaining and just overall beautiful。 Thank you Assata， for sharing your life story and for your fight。 To freedom This is probably the most important book I have ever read。 I cannot recommend it enough to anyone that will listen。 I truly believe that everyone， especially in the U。S。， needs to read this book。 It's informative and inspiring and sad and entertaining and just overall beautiful。 Thank you Assata， for sharing your life story and for your fight。 To freedom 。。。more
Mia
，
If you’re alive in this world and can only read one book， make it this one。
Dopriaci
，
Wow。
authorial
，
A wonderful memoir of a struggle for dignity and for the oppressed。 Assata's life story is fascinating。 A wonderful memoir of a struggle for dignity and for the oppressed。 Assata's life story is fascinating。 。。。more
Alicia
，
I read about COINTELPRO a few years ago and so I knew not to believe all of the propaganda about Assata Shakur， but there was sooo much I didn’t know about her story and struggle。 Her experiences with the criminal system is paralleled with the experiences of countless Black people， some publicized and some not。 She showed resilience in the face of inhumane circumstances and shit show court cases。 I think my favorite part of the book was Assata’s critique of the Black Panthers and other political I read about COINTELPRO a few years ago and so I knew not to believe all of the propaganda about Assata Shakur， but there was sooo much I didn’t know about her story and struggle。 Her experiences with the criminal system is paralleled with the experiences of countless Black people， some publicized and some not。 She showed resilience in the face of inhumane circumstances and shit show court cases。 I think my favorite part of the book was Assata’s critique of the Black Panthers and other political movements。 Being honest about shortcomings is the only way to make a movement stronger。 I was glad that， even though she was involved heavily in the Black revolution， she was able to address issues in a practical， scientific way。 Trigger warnings: racism， propaganda， details about the court and jailing systems， murder 。。。more
Duane
，
An exceptional individual who dedicated her life for the struggle for Black， Brown & all downtrodden peoples against the guardians of the status quo。 Her life is a study of the the over-the-top measures the US law enforcement apparatus went through to convict a nonviolent revolutionary whose crime was to organize masses to resist the injustice in our society。 She endured years of isolation & torture from prison to prison that resulted in 5 or 6 not guilty verdicts by racist juries who couldn't f An exceptional individual who dedicated her life for the struggle for Black， Brown & all downtrodden peoples against the guardians of the status quo。 Her life is a study of the the over-the-top measures the US law enforcement apparatus went through to convict a nonviolent revolutionary whose crime was to organize masses to resist the injustice in our society。 She endured years of isolation & torture from prison to prison that resulted in 5 or 6 not guilty verdicts by racist juries who couldn't find a trace of evidence to convict。 She， along with Angela Davis are matriarchs of the Black revolutionary movement。 Her's is a story that needs to be known。 。。。more
Purplepanda412
，
Amazing， i learned quite a bit about cointelpro， the atrocities Assata faced， the Black Panthers， how the party fell apart， and was reminded of the true evils committed against Black and Brown folks。 I want to thank Assata for all she has contributed to the world， and for all the support she gave my Indigenous relatives。
Julia
，
This book should be as popular as the autobiography of malcolm x！！！！ It's phenomenal。。。 This book should be as popular as the autobiography of malcolm x！！！！ It's phenomenal。。。 。。。more
Squid
，
Not really a review， just notes for myself！ Will probably try to re-read in the future， I feel like there's a lot of details I missed。。。。especially in relation to the trials which can get really complicated？ Quick Background: - Assata Shakur is known as a former member of the Black Liberation Army （BLA）。 In 1973， she was convicted for the first-degree murder of a New Jersey State Trooper。 Since 1979， she has lived in Cuba as a political refugee since her escape from the Clinton Correctional Fac Not really a review， just notes for myself！ Will probably try to re-read in the future， I feel like there's a lot of details I missed。。。。especially in relation to the trials which can get really complicated？ Quick Background: - Assata Shakur is known as a former member of the Black Liberation Army （BLA）。 In 1973， she was convicted for the first-degree murder of a New Jersey State Trooper。 Since 1979， she has lived in Cuba as a political refugee since her escape from the Clinton Correctional Facility for Women。 Her introduction to BLA and subsequent work: - After graduating from the City College of New York， she moved to Oakland where she joined the Black Panther Party。 She's very open to talking about mistakes the party made such as: inadequate political education， not properly teaching organizing or mobilizing techniques， etc。 - She eventually leaves the BPP due to disagreements about how it was run and joined the Black Liberation Army， an underground Black Power revolutionary organization that operated from 1970-1981。- In 1971， she starts to use the name Assata Olugbala Shakur， rejecting Joanne Chesimard as a "slave name"。 Misconceptions about US History in the Public School System: - Assata calls out Lincoln as an "archracist who had openly expressed his disdain for Black people。" （p。 33）。 His main objective was to save the Union， not destroy slavery， if he had a choice he wouldn't abolish it at all。- In school we are taught that the purpose of the Civil war was to free the slaves when in reality it was for economic reasons。 Northern industrialists were fighting to control the economy and the plantation slave economy of the south was a threat to northern capitalism。 - The north was afraid that those in the south would set up factories and process cotton themselves and they couldn't compete with slave labor。 To avoid this， they went to war。 - Scalping is a European custom。 In the 1700s， Massachusetts was paying $60 per scalp and Pennsylvania paid $134。 it was hundred years later that in response to the massive genocide by white people that Native Americans themselves started scalping。 Museums also don't talk about the casualties of Wounded Knee or how the U。S。 army gave them smallpox-infected blankets。 - Black people are called thieves and bandits when in actuality they were the ones robbed of their language， religion， culture， dignity， labor and lives。 The real thieves are those who get billions of dollars every year through tax evasions， illegal price fixing， embezzlement， etc。 - She makes a point about communism and how we're taught at an early age to be afraid of it despite not understanding it at all。 She focuses on different types of capitalist countries and how they all have different ways of applying socialist theory even though they have the same economic and similar political systems。 （East Germany， Bulgaria， Cuba， and North Korea） - There was not a single liberation movement in the world that was fighting for capitalism。 But you have many fighting for socialism。 - Capitalism: "。。。anything of value is processed by working people， so why shouldn't working people collectively own that wealth and resources？ Capitalism meant that rich businessmen owned the wealth， while socialism meant that the people who made the wealth owned it" （p 190）。 Incarceration: - In 1973， Assata Shakur， Zayd Malik Shakur， and Sundiata Acoli were stopped on the New Jersey Turnpike for driving with a broken tail light and "slightly exceeding the speed limit"。 Acoli （who was driving） was questioned and a shootout ensued where the State trooper was shot twice in the head and killed。 Zayd Shakur was also killed in this incident。 - Suffering from gunshot wounds in both arms and shoulder， Assata was taken to Middlesex General Hospital and interrogated on her hospital bed。 Her medical care during this period was "substandard" and she alleged that the police would beat and choke her， doing whatever they could whenever the doctor or nurse went outside。- Describes the strip and search process: humiliating， given powder for lice and crabs， and the "internal search" is incredibly invasive; if you refuse they put you in solitary until you agree。- She was primarily held in Rikers Island Correctional Institution for Women in New York city and often kept in solitary confinement。 She was incredibly isolated and would often walk out of her cell whenever food was served for a couple minutes so she could socialize with others before being forced back。- While in solitary she was always in danger of being hurt by guards。 In one chapter she recounts ritually stacking cups by the door so if anyone tried to enter her room in the middle of the night， she would wake up from the noise。 - Sure enough one night she woke up to the sound of cups crashing and the sight of 4-5 male guards standing at her doorway。 The female guard on duty was conveniently nowhere in sight。 They eventually leave after she yells loud enough for others to hear。 - The juror choosing process for her trials is painful to read about， a lot of them are biased and the judges were insistent on rushing to get the case to court。 Over the course of 4 years （between 1973-1977） she was indicted 10 times， and went through seven different criminal trials。 - At one point， her lawyer Stanley Cohen is mysteriously-and conveniently-dies after he told Assata that they finally had more information on one of the police officers in the case that was a main witness that would help push things in their favor。 Family Relationships: - Her daughter Kakuya Shakur was conceived during her trial and born in 1974。- There's one pretty emotional chapter where her daughter （still a young child at the time） visits her while she's in jail。 She's silent at first and eventually she breaks down， accusing her mom choosing of not to leave whenever she wants。 Upset， Assata tells her to try to open the cell door， which she does multiple times to no avail。- The police and FBI put Assata's family through a lot when she escapes to Cuba。 They follow her daughter， they badger her mother to the point of a heart attack， strange break-ins would occur， etc。 Her aunt Evelyn， would also receive phony notes from people pretending to be Assata。- At the end of the autobiography her mother and daughter visit her in Havana。 。。。more
Akosua Pinaman
，
Such a good read！
Furious Styles
，
After reading this honestly I'd love to meet her and have a conversation。 We hear so much about the Black Man's struggle of the 60's and 70's it is refreshing to hear a story from a Black Woman's experience。 After reading this honestly I'd love to meet her and have a conversation。 We hear so much about the Black Man's struggle of the 60's and 70's it is refreshing to hear a story from a Black Woman's experience。 。。。more
Sasha Friday
，
everyone who sees this should read it！！！ i really learned a lot from her explaining everything that lead her to become a revolutionary。 it’s an amazing autobiography
Maya Bon
，
It is of utmost importance that every person living in the United States understands Assata Shakur's story and how lucky we are that she， herself， wrote it out for us all to read。 As a member of the Black Liberation Army， Shakur organized for a world where everyone could feel uplifted， safe， and respected。 After being shot and brutally beaten by the police， left for dead on the side of the road， tortured in the hospital， and framed for murder even with medical evidence proving her innocence， Sha It is of utmost importance that every person living in the United States understands Assata Shakur's story and how lucky we are that she， herself， wrote it out for us all to read。 As a member of the Black Liberation Army， Shakur organized for a world where everyone could feel uplifted， safe， and respected。 After being shot and brutally beaten by the police， left for dead on the side of the road， tortured in the hospital， and framed for murder even with medical evidence proving her innocence， Shakur was sentenced to spend her life in prison when she and her comrades managed to organize her prison break and safe arrival to Cuba as a political refugee。 Her story is chilling and reads like a page-turner， depicting quite clearly the racist crackdown on Black organizers in the 60s and 70s。 。。。more
Mugoli Samba
，
Assata opens the book with an affirmation。 Its first line reads ‘I believe in living。’ A few lines later， she writes ‘I believe in life。’ If you know， you know。 Not sure how to review this book—it’s the story of her life， of how she came to her politics—so I’m sharing this passage instead。‘Talking to Kamau was so good for me。 Solitary had affected me really badly。 I had closed up inside myself and had forgotten how to relate in an open way with people。 We spent whole days laughing and talking an Assata opens the book with an affirmation。 Its first line reads ‘I believe in living。’ A few lines later， she writes ‘I believe in life。’ If you know， you know。 Not sure how to review this book—it’s the story of her life， of how she came to her politics—so I’m sharing this passage instead。‘Talking to Kamau was so good for me。 Solitary had affected me really badly。 I had closed up inside myself and had forgotten how to relate in an open way with people。 We spent whole days laughing and talking and listening to the kourtroom madness in between。 Each day we grew closer until， one day， it was clear to both of us that our relationship was changing。 It was growing physical。 We began to touch and to hold each other and each of us was like an oasis to the other。 For a few days the question of sex was there。 Then， one day， we talked about it。 Surely， it was possible。 But， i thought， the consequences！ Pregnancy was certainly a possibility。 I was facing life in prison。 Kamau would also be in prison for a long time。 The child would have no mother and no father。Kamau said， “If you become pregnant and you have a child， the child will be taken care of。 Our people will not let the child grow up like a weed。” I thought about it。 That was true， but the child would suffer。 “All our children suffer，” Kamau said。 “We can’t guarantee our children a future in a world like this。 Struggling is the only guarantee our children will ever have for a future。 You may never have another chance to have a child。”“I have to think，” i told him。 My mind was screaming。 Who would take care of my baby？ I thought about what Simba had said about our children being our hope for the future。 I had never wanted a child。 Since i was a teenager i had always said that the world was too horrible to bring another human being into。 And a Black child。 We see our children frustrated at best。 Noses pressed against windows， looking in。 And， at worst， we see them die from drugs or oppression， shot down by police， or wasted away in jail。 My head was swimming。 What had my mother and grandmother and great-grandmother thought when they brought their babies into this world？ What had my ancestors thought when they brought their babies into this world， only to see them flogged and raped， bought and sold。 I thought and thought。 How many Black children are separated from their parents？ How many grow up with their grandmothers and grandfathers？ Didn’t i stay with my grandparents until my mother had finished school and was on her feet？ I remembered all the discussions i had had。 “I’m a revolutionary，” i had said。 “I don’t have time to sit at home and make no babies。”“Do you think that you’re a machine？” a brother had asked me。 “Do you think you were put on this earth to fight and nothing else？”I thought about what Zayd had always told me。 “While you’re alive， girl， you betta live。”“I am about life，” i said to myself。 “I’m gonna live as hard as i can and as full as i can until i die。 And i’m not letting these parasites， these oppressors， these greedy racist swine make me kill my children in my mind， before they are even born。 I’m going to live and i’m going to love Kamau， and， if a child comes from that union， i’m going to rejoice。 Because our children are our futures and i believe in the future and in the strength and rightness of our struggle。” I was ready for whatever happened。 I relaxed and let nature take its course。’ 。。。more
Yvonne
，
It took me a long time to finish this book because it is just。。。heavy。 A very necessary look into Assata’s life， the way she was treated by police， the government and how she became radicalized。 I’m grateful I took the time to sit with the book and my feelings because I feel like I have an ever deeper admiration for Assata。
Jessica
，
While the aggressive racism in this book is appalling， it was also eye-opening to read about the capitalist ambitions that led to the Civil War and how the abolishment of slavery was just a by-product。 This was a riveting read written by a person that exists on such a high level of consciousness。
Filiz
，
Kuzey Amerika'daki zencilerin yasam mucadelesi hakkinda hepimizin az cok fikri vardir。 Kolelik kalkmis olsa da zencilerin beyazlar karsisindaki mucadelesinde bunca senedir degisen cok fazla sey olmadi。 Bu kitap， Assata adinda bir siyahi devrimcinin otobiyografisi。 70li yillarda beyaz bir polisi oldurdugu iddia edilen Assata'nin， hukumetin tum organ ve imkanlarini kullanarak nasil bir sucluya donusturuldugunu ve hayatinin karartildigini kendi cumleleriyle okuyoruz。 Ama bu kitabi ozellikle Assata' Kuzey Amerika'daki zencilerin yasam mucadelesi hakkinda hepimizin az cok fikri vardir。 Kolelik kalkmis olsa da zencilerin beyazlar karsisindaki mucadelesinde bunca senedir degisen cok fazla sey olmadi。 Bu kitap， Assata adinda bir siyahi devrimcinin otobiyografisi。 70li yillarda beyaz bir polisi oldurdugu iddia edilen Assata'nin， hukumetin tum organ ve imkanlarini kullanarak nasil bir sucluya donusturuldugunu ve hayatinin karartildigini kendi cumleleriyle okuyoruz。 Ama bu kitabi ozellikle Assata'nin yargi surecinde yasadiklarina ilaveten， flashback seklinde cocuklugundan baslayarak ABD'de bir zenci olarak yasamanin nasil bir sey oldugunu okuyucuya aktarmasi acisindan cok sevdim。 Ömrü beraat ettigi davalarda kendini savunmakla ve insanlik disi sartlarin hukum surdugu hucrelerde gecen ve halen FBI'in arananlar listesinde 1。 sirada olan ve basina yuklu bir miktar odul konulan bu kadinin hayatini okurken， yuz yillardir farkli cografyalarda yasayan baska azinlik gruplarin yasadiklarinin ve mucadelelerinin de ne kadar cok ortak yani oldugunu dusundum。 Ve medyadan aktarilanlarin bircogunun nasil bir karsi propagandayla kitlelerin beyinlerini yikadigini， hukumetlerin ve yayin organlarinin istedikleri gibi kisileri hedef gosterip tum imkanlari kendi lehine kullanarak hayatlari kararttigini。。。 Kitap son derece surukleyici bir hikaye diliyle kaleme alinmisti ve cok keyifli bir okuma surecim oldu。 Bu mucadeleyi herkesin okuyup， bize yansitilanlarin aksine bir de madalyonun diger tarafindan bakip dusunmesini isterim。 Assata'nin bir sozuyle bitireyim:"Tarihte hicbir kisi veya toplum ozgurlugunu， ona zulmeden insanlarin ahlak degerlerine seslenerek kazanmamistir。" 。。。more
Kamari Somers
，
Took me a while to figure out how I felt about it。。。。。。It was very heavy and mildly traumatic to read but very necessary。There are people who still believe that just because they don’t see something that it didn’t happen。 Or that because it seems outrage that’s it’s impossible。 And even though this book is very detailed and heartfelt and vulnerable， I have no doubt that some people probably wouldn’t believe her story。 They believe that the government and the cops always have their best interest Took me a while to figure out how I felt about it。。。。。。It was very heavy and mildly traumatic to read but very necessary。There are people who still believe that just because they don’t see something that it didn’t happen。 Or that because it seems outrage that’s it’s impossible。 And even though this book is very detailed and heartfelt and vulnerable， I have no doubt that some people probably wouldn’t believe her story。 They believe that the government and the cops always have their best interest at heart despite SO MUCH EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY。 It’s terrifying。 Knowing that people are predisposed to not believe you when you tell the truth， not help you when you’re in pain。。。。。the ruthlessness hurts my heart。I think the book does a great job of showing the growth of two women: a young woman figuring out her way in the world and an slightly older woman dealing with the realization that the only person she can really trust is herself。 The switching perspective is little hard to track once the timelines get closer but engaging none the less。 I’m coming to really enjoy autobiographies because the voices of the people come through so much。 It’s not polished， it’s real。HOWEVER， the ending really threw me off。 It was definitely building up to the escape and then said SIKE。 I get why you can’t include the details of that （obviously） but for anybody who doesn’t already know her story， the jump at the end was a little confusing。 It feels like she wrote it but originally but then they cut it out like when you watch a movie and you can tell that there was a deleted scene。 Like “WAIT WHY ARE THEY IN DIFFERENT CLOTHES？ Is this a new day？ What’s happening？ 😭😭”But regardless， it was an important read and unfortunately still very relatable。 I’m surprised at myself for taking so long to read her story。 She is such a badass ✊🏾🖤🤎#ReadingIsFundamental #AssataAutobiography #AssataShakur #blackbookstagram #BlackWomenRead #BadAssWomen #PagesArePortals #TheBookieMonster #BlackNonFiction #BlackBiographies #QuarantineReads📚 。。。more
Cass
，
read this book。 assata is an amazing woman， poet， and revolutionary。 i've learned so much from her life and her words。 read this book。 assata is an amazing woman， poet， and revolutionary。 i've learned so much from her life and her words。 。。。more
Andrea
，
Fascinating。 Very detailed and compelling。 The alternating chapter format is great。 Couldn’t put it down。
Dimitra Mylona
，
ο φυλετικός ρατσισμός των ηπα στα μεγαλεία του。 θα το χαρακτήριζα μυθιστορηματική αυτοβιογραφία， όχι γιατί πρόκειται για μυθοπλασία， αλλά γιατί διβάζοντάς το εύχεσαι να ήταν。 σκηνές του 70 σε δικαστήρια και φυλακές που θυμίζουν την δίκη των 7 του σικάγο και δυστυχώς ακόμα και σημερινές καταστάσεις。 （αν υπάρχει άνεση με τα αγγλικά， καλύτερα όχι από μετάφραση）。
Blakely
，
I don't want to throw around the word essential but this is essential。 we all need to know more about what american police really do and their historical role in suppressing Black Liberation movements and the way Assata writes it， her lived experience in that struggle， is incredible。 plus her poetry， which will amaze you。 5/5 I don't want to throw around the word essential but this is essential。 we all need to know more about what american police really do and their historical role in suppressing Black Liberation movements and the way Assata writes it， her lived experience in that struggle， is incredible。 plus her poetry， which will amaze you。 5/5 。。。more
Lindsey
，
A story of inspiration I could not keep my head out of this book from the beginning to the end。 Assata’s story is so inspirational and I gained so much knowledge from this book。 One quote that Assata said in the book that holds so much truth is， “No one is going to give you the education you need to overthrow them。 Nobody is going to teach you your true history， teach you your true heroes， if they know that that knowledge will help set you free。”This is actually why I started reading more books A story of inspiration I could not keep my head out of this book from the beginning to the end。 Assata’s story is so inspirational and I gained so much knowledge from this book。 One quote that Assata said in the book that holds so much truth is， “No one is going to give you the education you need to overthrow them。 Nobody is going to teach you your true history， teach you your true heroes， if they know that that knowledge will help set you free。”This is actually why I started reading more books from our greatest black revolutionary leaders because， I wanted to educate myself more about our history and the struggles。 Knowledge that you will never learn in school。 。。。more
fares
，
“Nobody is going to give you the education you need to overthrow them。” assata’s autobiography offers basic knowledge and understanding of u。s。 history， political and community organizing， and tells a beautifully heartbreaking story of resilience and willpower with a ton of great poetry from assata。 assata olugbala shakur’s name derives from arabic and west africa; assata which means “she who struggles，” olugbala means “love for the people，” and shakur arabic for “the thankful” which is symbol “Nobody is going to give you the education you need to overthrow them。” assata’s autobiography offers basic knowledge and understanding of u。s。 history， political and community organizing， and tells a beautifully heartbreaking story of resilience and willpower with a ton of great poetry from assata。 assata olugbala shakur’s name derives from arabic and west africa; assata which means “she who struggles，” olugbala means “love for the people，” and shakur arabic for “the thankful” which is symbolic and literal to her story。 assata remained resilient despite the corruptness of the courts， the inhumane and cruel conditions years in prison and solitary confinment and the torture and beatings she had dealt with from guards and cops。 none was more cruel and painful than giving birth while awaiting trial， being separated， and seeing her baby grow while she was in prison， summarized in this passage: “I go over and try to hug her。 In a hot second she is all over me。 All i can feel are these little four-year-old fists banging away at me。 Every bit of her force is in those punches， they really hurt。 I let her hit me until she is tired。 ‘It’s all right，’ i tell her。 ‘Let it all out。’ She is standing in front of me， her face contorted with anger， looking spent。 She backs away and leans against the wall。 ‘It’s okay，’ i tell her。 ‘Mommy understands。’ ‘You’re not my mother，’ she screams， the tears rolling down her face。 ‘You’re not my mother and I hate you。; I feel like crying too。 I know she is confused about who i am。 She calls me Mommy Assata and she calls my mother Mommy。”assata’s autobiography also offers insight into the inner workings and flaws in black militant organizing， especially the rise and downfall of the black panther party， because of arrogant leadership but primarily due to the impact of the fbi’s cointelpro program which sought to surveil， infiltrate， discredit， disrupt the activities of leftist political organizations， which in this case was successful。 （venceremos） 。。。more
David Foster
，
You must read if you care even one iota about justice。
Joshua McCoy
，
Tragic。 Beautiful。 Inspiring。 Grounding。Revolutionary。
Ignatz
，
Essential， essential reading。 Clear and compelling， more so than I even expected。 Really great especially on the personal formation behind entering militant struggle， the achievements and breakdown of the BPP between internal issues and external attack， and the relation between Blackness and 'scientific socialism'。"Our fight had started on a slave ship years before we were born。 Venceremos， my favorite word in Spanish， crossed my mind。 Ten million people had stood up to the monster。 Ten million Essential， essential reading。 Clear and compelling， more so than I even expected。 Really great especially on the personal formation behind entering militant struggle， the achievements and breakdown of the BPP between internal issues and external attack， and the relation between Blackness and 'scientific socialism'。"Our fight had started on a slave ship years before we were born。 Venceremos， my favorite word in Spanish， crossed my mind。 Ten million people had stood up to the monster。 Ten million people only ninety miles away。 We were here together in their land， my small little family， holding each other up after so long。 There was no doubt about it， our people would one day be free。 The cowboys and bandits didn't own the world。" 。。。more
Essbee
，
+++++
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Assata: An Autobiography
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Assata: An Autobiography&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft